I always thought of object being the broader term for anything in a museum, whereas artifact is specifically an object made or modified by humans.
Shana

 
On 7/6/07, Cascio, Chris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
For the "why be clear when you can use jargon" department:

I quite often hear the terms "artifact" and "object" used
interchangeably.  I always thought that they were used in different
contexts.  My understanding is that the term "object" is used for
"whole" things (ex. a chair, a painting, a teapot) whereas "artifact" is
used for fragments of things--especially something archaeological (ex. a
ceramic shard).

Maybe I'm being a bit too particular, but what's the consensus?

Chris

Christopher M. Cascio
Assistant Site Administrator
Pottsgrove Manor historic site
100 West King Street
Pottstown, PA  19464-6318
(610) 326-4014
[log in to unmask]
www.historicsites.montcopa.org
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